Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/fairplayisjewel01eber 


FAIR  PLAY 

IS 

42l  <0  31  W H 


/ 

NEW- YORK. 

PUBLISHED  BY  ELAM  BLISS,  No.  208  BROADWAY 

.T.  SETMOUR,  PRINTER, 


1819 


f 


a.  i r 


? 


O.LJ 


PREFACE. 


The  following  unwarrantable  attack  on  Dr 
Mott’s  Case  of  Aneurism,  appeared  in  the  “ Me- 
dical Recorder,”  published  in  Philadelphia. 
Presuming  that  the  w'ork  was  governed  by  fair 
principles,  and  that  it  was  open  to  liberal  dis- 
cussion, the  subjoined  answer  was  sent  to  the 
editor,  with  a request  that  it  might  be  inserted 
as  soon  as  possible.  But  it  appears  that  this 
gentleman,  either  swayed  by  personal  dislike, 
or  party  animosity,  refused  it  a place  in  his 
book.  It  was  therefore  determined  to  re-pub- 
lish  the  above-mentioned  attack,  with  the  an- 
swer annexed.  The  letter  of  Mr.  Eberle,  an- 
nouncing his  refusal  to  give  the  answer  an  in- 
sertion, is  also  published,  “ with  all  its  imper- 
fections on  its  head,”  that  the  public  may  have 
an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  singular  talents 
and  acquirements  of  the  Editor  of  the  “ Medi- 
cal Recorder.”  A reply  to  that  letter  concludes 
the  pamphlet. 


REVIEW 


FROM  THE 

i 

AMERICAN  MEDICAL  RECORDER. 

Remarks  on  a Pamphlet  entitled  “ Reflections  on  Securing 
in  a Ligature,  the  Arteria  Innominata , to  which  is  add- 
ed, a Case  in  which  this  Artery  was  tied  by  a Surgical 
Operation.  By  Valentine  Mott,  M.  D Professor  of 
Surgery  in  the  University  ofNew-York,  &c. 

This  case  is  of  so  important  a nature  as  very  pro- 
perly to  excite  much  attention.  Its  circumstances 
are  detailed  by  Dr.  Mott  so  particularly  as  to  leave 
no  doubt  that  he  tied  the  arteria  innominata,  and  that 
the  patient  survived  the  operation  twenty-six  days. 
On  attending  carefully  to  its  history,  a question  im- 
mediately arose  on  a subject  which  appears  not  to 
have  been  sufficiently  attended  to  by  the  Doctor,  ei- 
ther previous  to,  or  after  the  operation ; and  that  is, 
whether  M.  Bateman’s  tumour  really  was  an  aneu- 
rism, and  of  course  w hether  the  operation  done  was 
necessary  and  justifiable. 

Dazzled  by  the  brilliancy  of  such  an  operation, 
many  practitioners,  and  particularly  the  younger 
part  of  the  profession,  would  not,  perhaps,  think  of 
investigating  this 'subject.  But  we  conceive  it  of 
great  importance  to  do  so,  to  show  how  careful  eve- 
ry surgeon  should  be,  not  to  perform  painful  and 
dangerous  operations,  except  in  cases  where  the  ne- 
cessity of  them  is  clearly  ascertained. 

We  observe,  in  the  history  of  this  case,  that  the 
first  symptoms  after  the  injury,  were  those  of  violent 
inflammation  about  the  shoulder  and  arm.  Now,  as 


4 


far  as  we  have  seen,  aneurism  has  not  usually  com- 
menced in  that  way ; a pulsating  swelling  from  a dis- 
tended or  ruptured  artery  is  generally  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  the  disease.  On  the  subsidence  of  this 
inflammation,  a tumefaction,  situated  above,  and  pos- 
terior to  the  clavicle,  began  to  show  itself  in  the  form 
of  an  irregular  tumour,  but  no  circumstance  occur- 
red which  gave  rise  to  a suspicion  of  its  being  aneu- 
rism. 

The  occurrence  which  appears  to  have  decided 
the  nature  of  this  swelling  in  Dr.  Mott’s  mind  was, 
that  on  the  3d  of  May,  about  two  months  after  the 
man’s  admittance  into  the  hospital,  the  patient  felt 
something  give  way  in  the  tumour;  his  shoulder 
was  painful ; the  tumour  suddenly  increased 
about  one-third,  and  a pulsation  was  distinctly  per- 
ceptible. Its  most  prominent  part  was  below  the 
clavicle,  at  which  place  the  pulsation  wras  most  dis- 
tinct Next  day  the  tumour  Avas  evidently  increas- 
ed, though  it  was  not  so  firm  and  resisting  as  it  had 
been,  and  the  pulsation  not  so  distinct. 

Now  all  this  appears  to  us  contrary  to  what  is 
commonly  observed  in  aneurismal  tumours,  for  in 
their  early  stages  the  pulsation  is  always  most  dis- 
tinct, where  they  are  so  situated  as  to  form  an  exter- 
nal swelling.  It  may  here  be  remarked,  that  no  ap- 
pearance is  noticed  indicating  the  effusion  of  blood 
into  the  cellular  membrane  about  the  clavicle.  Avhich, 
had  the  sensation,  mentioned  by  the  man  of  some- 
thing giving  way,  been  owing  to  the  rupture  of  an 
aneurismal  sac,  Avould,  in  all  probability,  have  been 
observed.  We  think  this  symptom  can  be  account- 
ed for,  by  supposing  that  some  deep  seated  scrofu- 
lous abscess  suddenly  burst  and  discharged  its  con- 


5 


tents  into  the  tela  cellulosa,  under  the  clavicle,  form- 
ing the  projecting  tumour,  which  being  now  more  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  subclavian  artery,  the  influence  of 
that  artery  was  more  distinctly  felt,  in  causing  the 
pulsation  of  the  swelling*. 

Feeling  these  doubts  on  reading  the  history  of  the 
case,  we  fully  expected  to  have  had  them  cleared 
away  by  the  dissection  after  death,  but  in  this  expec- 
tation we  have  been  greatly  disappointed.  We  ex* 
pected  an  aneurismal  sac,  or  cavity  would  have  been 
opened,  the  artery  entering  it  named,  and  the  aneu- 
rismal orifices  of  it  described ; but  instead  of  any 
satisfactory  information  on  this  highly  important  sub- 
ject, a profound  silence  is  observed.  Instead  of  first 
demonstrating  the  existence  of  an  aneurismal  tu- 
mour, and  then  proceeding  to  investigate  the  effects 
of  the  operation  performed  for  its  cure,  we  find  the 
latter  has  almost  exclusively  received  attention,  and 
the  appearances  of  the  tumour  are  related  in  a very" 
cursory  manner,  in  the  last  place.  There  is  so  much 
obscurity  in  the  history  given  of  the  state  of  the  inno- 
minata  at  the  place  of  the  operation,  as  to  render  it 
impossible  to  know  what  was  its  real  condition.  In 
describing  its  two  extremities  on  each  side  of  the 
place  where  the  ligature  had  divided  it,  we  are  told 
in  one  paragraph,  (page  41)  that  “the  upper  extre- 
mity of  this  vessel  was  considerably  diminished  in 
its  diameter  by  the  thickened  state  of  its  coats,  oc- 
casioned by  the  surrounding  inflammation  and  in 
the  next  paragraph  it  is  stated,  that  the  “ tripod  of 
great  vessels,  consisting  of  the  innominata,  subclavi- 

i 

* That  such  a cavity  existed,  is  rendered  probable  by  the  ac- 
count given  in  the  dissection  of  a number  of  enlarged  and  suppu- 
rated glands  being  found  under  the  clavicles. 


(i 


an,  and  carotid  arteries,  to  the  extent  of  nearly  an 
inch,  was  dissolved  and  carried  away  by  ulceration;” 
so  that  in  the  one  we  are  told  of  the  thickened  state 
of  the  vessel,  which,  in  the  succeeding,  is  declared  to 
have  been  carried  away  by  the  ulcerative  process. 

In  describing  the  operation,  a thickened  and  dis- 
coloured state  of  coats  of  the  subclavian  artery  was 
mentioned,  which  discouraged  the  Doctor  from  tying 
a ligature  round  it ; but  in  the  dissection,  nothing 
more  is  related  concerning  the  state  of  this  vessel, 
than  what  is  contained  in  the  following  unsatisfacto- 
ry, and  to  us  unintelligible,  sentence : “ The  subcla- 
vian artery,  internally  and  externally  to  the  disease, 
wras  pervious,”  (page  42.)  On  opening  the  tumour, 
we  are  informed  that  it  was  much  diminished,  and 
that  the  clavicle  was  involved  in  it,  found  carious, 
and  entirely  disunited  about  the  middle.  A number 
of  lymphatic  glands  under  the  clavicles,  and  particu- 
larly the  left,  were  considerably  enlarged,  and  when 
cut  into,  very  soft,  and  evidently  in  a state  of  scrofu- 
lous suppuration ; and  then  the  following  sentence 
concludes  the  account,  “No  other  morbid  appear- 
ance was  observed.” 

This  is  truly  an  important  disclosure,  and  to  us 
quite  satisfactory,  that  poor  Bateman's  disease  was 
not  understood,  and  that  he  was  unnecessarily  sub- 
jected to  the  operation  w hich  w as  performed. 

“Far  from  being  of  opinion  that  the  “noblest  ef- 
forts of  scientific  surgery”  w ere  made  for  the  relief 
of  this  poor  man ; we  believe  that  the  mode  of  ope- 
ration, and  the  after  treatment,  were  highly  objec- 
tionable; but  want  of  time  prevents  us  at  present 
from  entering  fully  on  these  subjects.” 


Answer  to  the  foregoing  Review. 


Having'noticed  en  passant  your  Review,  1 am  in- 
duced, though  relunctantly,  to  come  forward  upon  the 
occasion.  I say  reluctantly,  because  I have  little 
time  to  spare  : but  allow  me  to  hope  that  no  consi 
deration  shall  make  me  quiescent  when  merit  is  at- 
tacked by  envy  or  assailed  by  malice.  It  may  he 
necessary  in  the  first  place  for  me  to  assure  you,  that 
I have  no  acquaintance  with  the  gentleman  whom 
you  attempt  to  traduce,  because  he  was  so  unfortu- 
nate as  to  be  the  first  surgeon  in  any  age,  or  any 
country,  who  secured,  with  evident  success,  the 
arteria  innominata.  You  are  an  odd  surgeon,  for 
you  blame  Dr.  Mott  for  not  being  able  to  demon- 
strate on  the  dead  subject,  arterial  coats,  which 
had  been  previously  dissolved  by  ulceration.  You 
appear  also,  not  to  be  acquainted  with  the  word 
pervious.  Having  no  inclination  to  become  your  in- 
structer  in  propria  personae , allow  me  in  this  place  to 
refer  you  to  Dr.  Johnson’s  Dictionary ; it  is  probable 
thatyou  have  alreadylooked  into  little  EntickI  Do  not 
conceive  that  I mean  to  detract  from  your  acquire- 
ments : no,  sir,  I am  aware  that  you  are  a surgeon ; 
your  Review  has  satisfied  me,  the  knife  is  percepti- 
ble in  your  operations  on  the  English  language,  and 
the  twisted  suture  is  wound  about  your  arguments. 
You  commence  by  assuring  the  world  “ that  a pulsa- 
ting swelling  from  a distended  or  ruptured  artery  is 
generally  the  first  appearance  of  the  disease.”  Here 
I might  refer  you  to  Charles  Bell,  but  as  it  is  proba- 
ble that  his  book  may  be  scarce  in  Philadelphia,  you 
will,  I trust,  forgive  me  for  making  a quotation.  Doc- 


8 


tors,  (agreeably  to  the  old  adage,)  sometimes  disa- 
gree. “ Aneurism,”  says  Bell,  “ may  be  attended  with 
pulsation,  or  the  pulsation  may  have  ceused , or  it  may 
never  have  been  a characteristic  of  the  disease .”  1 leave 
the  matter  for  yourself  and  Mr.  Bell  to  settle,  and 
proceed : “ Dazzled  by  the  brilliancy  of  such  an 
operation,  many  practitioners,  and  particularly  the 
younger  part  of  the  profession,  would  not  think 
perhaps  of  investigating  the  subject.”  Here,  sir, 
you  are  correct,  lor  Youth  is  ingenuous;  she  awards 
the  wreath  of  renown  when  due,  though  she  strips 
her  own  temples  of  the  leaves  that  compose  it: 
Those  leaves  are  unsoiled  by  the  blast  of  detraction; 
unruffled  by  the  breath  of  envy.  It  should  seem  then 
that  you  are  old  ; I honour  your  years,  but  condemn 
your  malignity. 

After  a few  remarks  you  proceed,  “ Now  all  this 
appears  to  us  contrary  to  what  has  been  commonly 
observed  in  aneurismal  tumours,  for,  in  their  early 
stages,  the  pulsation  is  always  most  distinct,  where 
they  are  so  situated  as  to  form  an  external  swelling.” 

Do  you  judge  of  the  individual  correctness  of  an 
op-i-wlon?  or  of  an  opinion  by  what  commonly  takes 
place  ? If  so,  I cease  to  wonder,  for  it  is  reported 
that  the  arteria  innominata  was  never  tied  before, 
not  even  in  Philadelphia. 

Again,  “ It  may  be  here  remarked  that  no  appear- 
ance is  noticed  indicating  the  effusion  of  blood  into 
the  cellular  membrane  about  the  clavicle,  which  had 
the  sensation  mentioned  by  the  man,  of  something 
giving  way,  been  owing  to  an  aneurismal  sac,  would, 
in  all  probability , have  been  observed.”  Read  Dor- 
sey’s Cooper,  kind  sir,  and  you  will  find  that  Profes- 
sor Scarpa  disagrees  with  you. 


9 


It  would,  however,  be  unjust  in  me,  not  to  allow 
you  some  credit  for  your  penetration.  You  have  dis- 
covered that  the  patient  did  not  feel  something  give 
way,  and  furthermore,  that  Doctors  Mott,  Post,  Kis- 
sam,  and  Stevens,  were  deceived  when  present, 
while  you  were  perfectly  correct,  though  a sojourner 
in  Philadelphia.  It  appears  also,  that  Dr.  Hosack 
attended:  his  peculiar  province  is  certainly  not  sur- 
gery; but  allow  me  to  remark,  by  the  way,  that  he 
has  an  eye  and  an  ear  for  every  department.  The 
pillars  of  the  New- York  College  are  firm,  uniting  the 
strength  of  the  Doric  column  with  the  ornament  of 
the  Corinthian  Capital. 

But  to  proceed : “ feeling  these  doubts , on  reading 
the  history  of  the  case,  we  fully  expected  to  have  had 
them  cleared  away  by  the  dissection  after  death,  but 
in  this  expectation  we  have  been  greatly  disappoint- 
ed.”— So  it  appears  that  you  still  entertain  doubts, 
after  having  published  your  belief  that  the  tumour 
was  not  an  aneurism ; you  should  have  kept  this  to 
yourself.  If  a man  doubts  what  he  has  asserted, 
who  will  be  generous  enough  to  differ  with  him  in 
opinion  ? 

But,  sir,  how  do  you  make  up  your  mind  with  re- 
gard to  the  operation  ? Not  by  comparison,  for  it 
was  never  performed  before  ; not  by  witnessing  the 
mode,  for  you  were  in  Philadelphia.  It  must,  there- 
fore, either  be  attributed  to  your  omnipresence  or 
intuition.  When  the  history  of  this  case  was  publish- 
ed, it  was  not  deemed  important  to  enter  into  posi- 
tive or  laboured  discussions  relative  to  diagnosis. 
The  surgeons  ofNew-York  supposed  it  to  be  aneu- 
rism ; perhaps  the  Philadelphia  students  may  agree 
with  them,  for  students  are  obliged  to  read,  in  self- 

B 


10 


defence;  whereas  regular  practitioners  have,  at  least, 
a choice  of  remaining  ignorant.  Should  you,  how- 
ever, covet  instruction,  say  so  boldly ; and  no  doubt 
Dr.  Mott  will  allow  you  a seat  in  his  lecture  room. 
gratis. 

For  my  own  part,  I did  not  witness  the  operation 
that  offends,  but  I have  seen  it  performed  on  the 
dead  subject,  with  consummate  skill,  by  the  same 
person  who  established  its  certainty,  and  thereby 
“ sent  a message  to  surgery.” 

Can  any  voice  be  wanting  to  decide  that  the  no- 
blest efforts  of  scientific  surgery”  were  employed  ? 
Surely  none,  for  your  assault  has  proved  it.  The 
storm  wastes  its  fury  on  the  oak,  the  shrub  is  secure 
in  its  comparative  insignificance. 

If  Harvey  was  attacked  for  establishing  the  cir- 
culation of  the  blood,  if  Haller  was  aspersed  and  ne- 
glected in  his  native  city,  if  Sydenham  was  persecu- 
ted, Rush  libelled,  and  Lavoisier  murdered,  Mott  may 
smile  at  the  humble  apostate  who  censures  him  for 
his  success,  and  envies  him  for  his  expertness. 

You  condemn  the  subsequent  treatment.  Me- 
thinks  you  should  have  pointed  out  the  particular 
improprieties,  and,  at  least,  hinted  at  something, 
which,  in  your  opinion,  would  have  been  more  cor- 
rect. For  this  neglect  I do  not  reproach  you ; silence 
seldom  betrays,  and  perhaps  you  prefer  waiting  till 
you  perform  some  operation  of  importance  yourself, 
when  your  opinions  might  deserve  consideration,  and 
command  respect.  You  may,  however,  be  able  to 
handle  the  knife  better  than  the  pen  ; with  the  for- 
mer you  lacerate  patients  only,  with  the  latter  you 
soil  the  scroll  of  science,  and  deface  the  meed  of 
reputation.  But,  sir,  there  is  a vast  difference  be- 


11 


tween  the  clamours  of  aspersion,  and  the  voice  of 
truth.  You  may  become  eminent  in  time,  for  men 
have  risen  from  the  humblest  situations  to  the  summit 
of  perfection.  But  beware — that  summit  is  perilous, 
for  the  demons  of  assailing  envy  sear  the  roses  of 
science,  and  give  her  fairest  chaplets  to  the  winds. 

Stifle  your  restless  animosity,  “be  just  and  fear 
not,”  remember  that  sterling  talents,  while  it  scorns 
to  detract,  is  nevermore  delighted  than  when  proffer- 
ing merited  honour,  and  conferring  ingenuous  ap- 
plause. We  revere,  respect,  and  love  your  celebra- 
ted professor,  Dr.  Physic ; dignified  by  acquirements, 
exalted  by  success,  and  honoured  by  renown.  We 
gaze  with  delight,  on  the  hemisphere  of  surgery, 
which  glows  with  his  declining  splendours,  w hile  we 
anticipate  the  day  when  our  own  star  shall  become 
“ lord  of  the  ascendant.”  The  gray  hairs  of  Physic 
are  hidden  by  the  laurels  that  surround  them : his 
name  is  deeply  engraved  on  the  tablets  of  immortal 
fame.  The  words  of  Pompey  to  Scylla,  with  a little 
alteration,  may  apply;  Philadelphia  has  her  setting , 
New-York  her  rising  sun. 

Dr.  Rush  informs  us,  that  many  great  men  were  in 
the  habit  of  acquiring  knowledge  from  ferrymen, 
facts  from  labourers,  and  the  art  of  healing  from  old 
women.  After  noticing  this,  it  may  be  superfluous 
to  add,  that  I shall  alwrays  be  ready  to  look  over  your 
future  communications. 


12 


The  following  is  the  Letter  from  the  Editor  of  the 
Medical  Recorder. 


Dear  Sir 

The  answer  to  the  review  of  Dr.  Mott’s  case,  you 
send  for  publication,  cannot  be  admitted  into  the 
Recorder; — It  is,  therefore,  according  to  your  request 
returned.  However  willing  I may  be  to  keep  the 
pages  of  the  Recorder  open  to  free  discussion,  I can- 
not allow  its  pages  to  become  the  vehicle  of  violent 
crimination  and  irrelevant  remark — It  appears  to  me 
that  this  answer  could  be  of  no  service  to  the  person 
whome  it  intends  to  vindicate — The  personal  allu- 
sions in  it  are  wholly  inapplicable — The  Author  of 
the  criticism  on  Dr.  Mott’s  case  is  no  beardless  tyro 
• — his  charracter  both  as  a man  and  a Surgeon,  exhone- 
rate  him  from  the  charge  of  malignant  envy — inexpe- 
rience & ignorance — Notwithstanding  these  objec- 
tions, however,  if  Dr.  Mott,  on  reading  your  answer, 
will  sanction  its  publication,  If  he  will  rest  his  vindi- 
cation upon  it,  I will  give  it  a place  in  the  Re- 
corder— 

Yours  respectfully 

J EBERLE 

3 Editor  of  the  Med.  Re’d. 


13 


To  J.  Eberle , Editor  of  the  Medical  Recorder. 

Dr.  Bacon  has  just  presented  me  your  answer  to 
his  communication,  requesting  you  to  publish  a re- 
view of  the  unwarrantable  attack  which  appeared  in 
the  “ Medical  Recorder,”  on  Dr.  Mott’s  “ case  of 
Aneurism.”  It  seems  you  have  refused  to  give  the 
said  review  an  insertion : allow  me,  therefore,  to  hope 
that  you  will  not  deem  the  present  mode  of  obtaining 
a hearing,  indirect  or  malicious. 

As  Editor  of  the  “ Medical  Recorder,”  you  have 
certainly  a right  to  govern  yourself  by  personal  ani- 
mosity or  party  feeling ; and  I shall  be  among  the 
last  to  insist  on  your  having  any  respect  for  jus- 
tice, or  any  reverence  for  truth.  The  press  is  open 
to  all;  and  public  opinion,  I presume,  is  not  either 
governed  or  misled  by  your  endeavours.  Under  this 
impression,  it  has  been  determined  to  publish  your 
letter,  without  the  smallest  alteration ; and  it  may  not 
be  irrelevant  to  remark,  that  little  doubt  exists  in  my 
mind,  of  your  opinions  on  many  subjects  being 
better  than  the  unhappy  orthography  which  partly 
conveys  them.  Your  diamonds  are  perhaps  of  the 
purest  water,  but  the  setting  is  certainly  abominable. 
Thank  heaven,  I am  no  Editor  of  a literary  work, 
which  may  account  for  my  spelling  tolerably.  In  or- 
der to  assist  your  investigation,  the  interlineations 
in  your  letter  are  totally  omitted,  and  the  words 
spelled  incorrectly  are  placed  in  italics  #. 

You  remark  that  “ the  personal  allusions  in  the 
review  are  totally  inapplicable,”  after  having  be- 
fore declared  that  “ the  pages  of  the  ‘ Recorder’ 

* See  the  words  in  italics  in  Eberle’s  letter. 


14 


should  not  become  the  vehicle  of  violent  crimina- 
tion, and  irrelevant  remark.”  Now,  if  the  allusions 
are  inapplicable,  they  certainly  cannot  be  inju- 
rious. But  what  do  you  mean  by  personal  al- 
lusions ? Pray,  Sir,  whose  fame  was  assault- 
ed? Whose  name  or  person  was  brought  into  jeo- 
pardy ? Some  unknown  and  perhaps  inconsiderable 
being  endeavours  to  tarnish  the  fame  of  Dr.  Mott ; 
another  unknown,  inconsiderable  being  steps  forward 
on  the  defensive.  Where  is  this  personal  allusion, 
this  violent  crimination  ? Does  it  affect  you  ? It  is 
necessary  first  to  identify  the  victim,  or  there  can  be 
no  sacrifice.  Reader,  consider  the  following  remarks 
attentively,  and  perhaps  you  may  discover  dregs  of 
personal  animosity,  mingled  with  the  poison  of  ma- 
lice, and  the  gall  of  envy. 

“ Notwithstanding  these  objections,  (says  the  Edi- 
tor of  the  Recorder,  a work  published  in  America , that 
cradle  of  free  discussion ,)  notwithstanding  these  objec- 
tions, however,  if  Dr.  Mott,  on  reading  your  answer, 
will  sanction  its  publication,  if  he  will  rest  his  vindi- 
cation upon  it,  I will  give  it  a place  in  the  Recorder." 
Now  what  does  this  mean  ? To  whom  does  this  in- 
dividually apply  ? What  has  Dr.  Mott  to  do  with 
the  answer  ? He  may  find  time  to  smile  with  con- 
tempt upon  your  feeble  imbecility,  but  will,  I trust, 
never  condescend  to  notice  your  frivolous  objections, 
or  ephemeral  attacks. 

You  have  betrayed  yourself:  for  it  appears,  under 
your  own  hand,  that  you  “ cannot  allowr  the  pages  of 
the  4 Recorder’  to  become  the  vehicle  of  violent 
crimination  and  irrelevant  remark,”  unless  it  be  with 
the  express  intention,  the  fixed  design  of  injuring  Dr. 
Mott.  Your  poignard  is  still  aimed  at  the  same  ob- 


15 


ject,  but  it  shall  fall  from  your  nerveless  grasp,  and 
betray  you. 

■ “ this  even  handed  Justice 

Commends  the  ingredients  of  the  poisoned  chalice, 

To  our  own  lips.” — 

1 have  confessed  myself  to  be  an  inconsiderable 
being  in  the  world  of  literature,  but  you  may  depend 
upon  my  announcing  my  name,  whenever  your  cham- 
pion, “whose  character  as  a man  and  a surgeon,  ex- 
onerate him  from  malignant  envy,  inexperience  and 
ignorance,”  shall  go  forward  and  do  the  same.  Nay 
more — so  far  from  requesting  Dr.  Mott  to  rest  his 
vindication  on  what  my  humble  hand  has  already 
traced,  I shall  ever  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  meet 
and  repel  any  future  detraction.  This  is  not  predica- 
ted upon  any  intimacy  with  that  gentleman ; a sense  of 
justice  alone  urges  me  forward.  Fearless  I enter 
the  lists,  and  await  the  summons  of  the  herald. 

“ Thrice  is  he  armed  that  hath  his  quarrel  just, 

And  he  but  naked,  though  lock’d  up  in  steel, 

Whose  bosom  with  injustice  is  corrupted.” 

To  conclude:  allow  me  to  hope  that  you  will  be 
able  to  procure  some  expert  gladiator  to  assist  you, 
— let  me  not  war  with  Thersites — let  us  have  hard 
fighting,  and  then 

“ Lay  on  Macduff, 

And  damn’d  be  he,  who  first  cries  hold,  enough  !” 


